To pick up on the article's points France's economy has (at least) two major problems.

1. The public debt which is already well above the growth and stability pact's threshold of 60%. In 2004 the public debt amounted to 64.7 % a figure which has risen to 66.4%. Here it should be fair to say that this difference might be due to differences in calculations and all other sorts of (unexplained) factors. The main point remains though ... France's debt, be it slightly larger or not, remains very high and mirrors a society where policy makers lack the solutions and will to act and reform.

2. Another crucial data point is the measure of prélèvements obligatoires which can be translated as mandatory expenses. Particlularly important are those expenses levied on employers and employees to finance France's social protection scheme (la protection sociale). These expenses epitomizes France's rigid labour market and represent the most important contributor to France's strutural uemployment of 10%. In 2004 les prélèvements obligatoires amounted to 43.5% a number which has risen to 44.3% in 2005.

What does this mean?

Well, at best it means status quo for France but this is not good enough and French policy makers must quite simply try to find a solution in the long term. Countries always show intertia towards reform but this does not mean that you should not address the problems.